I semi-retired from blackjack because of having a young son some years ago. I visited this board and have to wonder what some are doing. The best card counting strategy is the Hi-Opt II and Uston advanced point count. The hi-opt II is used by most card counting teams. Shuffle tracking (which I can also do) is basically for team play. I have used it individually but can get really tired after 2 hours of shuffle tracking. I can count all day. Starting out I originally used the +1 -1 count, switched to the Uston advanced point count, then went with the hi-opt II when I had a team. I found other teams also used the hi opt II. Betting strategy is based on count.

I want to add that I'm talking about single and double deck blackjack. You can count a multi (6 or 8 deck blackjack), but it doesn't do you a whole lot of good. You can say when it gets down to the last few decks it may work, but they usually cut out 2 decks. I will post tomorrow the way to play multi deck blackjack. Of course, shuffle tracking is the best way to play, but like I said before this is for team play. I have a method I use for multi deck that basically does not include counting. I need to write it first, (which I'll do at work tomorrow), then I'll post it. I'll probably just paste it from my book I wrote about 5 years ago. This method very well, and you can make some money and stick it to the casinos.

I'm going to skip some explanations and try to make this as simple as possible. On multi-deck, play basic strategy. Don't waste your time counting. Counting has little effect on a multi deck game. Counting doesn't come into play until the final 3 decks, and they usually cut out two decks in a multi deck game. Shuffle tracking works, but it's for team play. Play a multi deck the following way.

FINDING A GOOD TABLE Any of the following facts may help you find a good table. Stand behind the players at a table and watch how the cards are falling. Is the dealer busting on counts of 12 thru 16? Is the dealer tray low on chips? This possibly shows the dealer is paying out money. Do the players at a table have a large amount of chips? One or two players may have bought in for a lot of money, but not the entire table. This can indicate a hot table. Is a security guard bringing chips to a table because the dealer tray needs refilled? Is a specific spot hot.

Money Management This tool is just as important as counting cards. Example: You are at a $10 minimum table and you bet $10. You win. The dealer gives you $10. You bring the entire $10 in. You win again. Now you put $5 on top of your original $10. You now have a $15 bet. You win again. You put $5 more on your bet for a total of $20. You win again. You now start over with a $10 bet. This is called a 1, 1, 1.5, 2 betting strategy. You pay yourself first after your first win. This will keep you in the game. After you win four in a row you start all over. You can use this strategy with any size base bet. Example: A $10 base is $10,$10,$15,$20. A $20 base is $20,$20,$30,$40. A $50 base is $50,$50,$75,$100. A more aggressive approach would be a 1, 1, 2, 3 betting strategy. A $10 base would be $10,$10,$20,$30. You will see many players who play with the proper strategy, but they have no money management. You will see them eventually lose their winnings. I usually use the 1,1, 1.5, 2, betting strategy. If it's a $10 table, when I reach $20 I keep on going. I go to $25, $30, etc. I still double down and split cards.

You are better off taking a specific amount of cash. If you lose it, do not get more money. You are throwing good money after bad. You should at least take 20 times your minimum bet to play. For example: $5 minimum per play would be $100. Know when to walk away with your profits. If you are ahead at a table, and the dealer goes on a streak and wins 4 in a row, then leave, find a new table. Some players may be ahead only to lose it at the same table. Here is a little trick to make sure you walk away with your profits. Lets say you are using a base bet of $10. This means you have at least $200. At the end of the shoe you have $300. Take the extra $100 and put it to the side. Do not use it to bet. Do this at the end of each shoe. If you end the shoe with less than $200 then start the next shoe with what you have left, do not use your profits. Once the $200 runs out, then check your profits that you placed away from your playing chips. If you have more than $200 then start again if you like. Anything extra goes in your pocket. If you have less than $200 then you are done. This will keep your losses to a minimum.

I like to start a shoe with 4 base bets. At a $10 table I start with $40. If at any time I lose 4 base bets more than I've won or lose 4 in a row then I quit that table or that shoe. When a streak ends, I put my winnings aside and go back to the $40. If I'm doing well I may raise my base bet later in the day.

I've really condensed this, it works well for me. I was recently on a riverboat in Indiana. They had one 2 deck game. I couldn't get any where for a few hours. I went and played my system on their multi-deck, got my money back, won $300 more, went back to the 2 deck game when the multi-deck table started getting bad. At the 2 deck game I make $1,000 in half an hour. I couldn't get a bad card. Sometimes it happens like that.

What he describes is the sort of thing you would see daily in a casino with the average joe blackjack player. It's also a coincidence that sometimes when you happen to talk to people at the table you are playing at that they share these same "principals" as Gary. I've been there done that as a beginner and it just don't work effectively for the long term. I've experimented with just BS and progression when I was a beginner and I always would come out even or at a loss. Those theory's, myths, and gut instinct plans I hear I simply ignore. You'll always usually hear someone talk your ear off at a table who claims "their new found method" works "all the time". I just say hey if it works for you great. I'll play my way you play your way.